Salvador nips Zarate in playoff

BINANGONAN, Rizal , Philippines  – Elmer Salvador buried a par-saving 24-foot putt to edge Danny Zarate in a sudden-death playoff Friday for the inaugural Saving Laguna Lake Pro-Am Invitational at the rolling Eastridge Golf Club course here.

The 39-year-old Salvador holed the winning putt after both he and Zarate missed the green on the playoff hole, the downhill No. 1, and found themselves in difficult positions to get close to the flag. Salvador hit his third shot into a fried egg lie in the bunker while Zarate chipped from the left rough.

Zarate missed a tying putt from about 22 feet on the extra hole.

Zarate was the clubhouse leader at 141 after a 70 until Salvador forged the playoff with the final day’s best score of three-under-par 69.

Ferdie Aunzo, the club pro who held a one-shot led on Day 1, suffered a back nine meltdown and settled for a share of third with Cassius Casas and Tony Fernando at 143.

Aunzo went four over in the back nine after a sizzling 33 in the front side for a 73 that denied him a second straight victory. Fellow ICTSI pros Fernando and Casas shot a 71 and 72, respectively.

Mike Bibat finished solo sixth with a 70-144 but claimed the pro-am title in partnership with Korean Park Jung-soo. With a net of 286, they wound up four shots ahead of Casas and Tonlits Asistio and three ahead of Fernando and Dino Villanueva.

“It feels good to win and help the cause of the Laguna de Bay Conservation Society at the same time,” said Salvador, who won for the fourth time in his career.

Ed Manda, chief organizer of the event and general manager of the Laguna Lake Development Authority, said that they can look forward to more fund-generating projects with the success of the Pro-Am and the country now realizing the urgent need for the conservation of the Laguna Lake after the devastation caused by typhoons Pepeng and Ondoy.

Salvador earned an extra P10,000 for placing third in the Open division of the pro-am with partner Ariel Villacencio. Jerome Delariarte and Alex Ignacio topped Class A while Ronnie Casas and Jonah Ilagan claimed Class B.